Originality of Sikles, an important basis of tourism

Gandaki, Dec 22: Tourism entrepreneurs have stressed the need to preserve the originality of the tourist village Sikles of Kaski.

The participants in an interaction organized by the Gurung Tourism Entrepreneurs Association in Gandaki Province on Saturday underlined that the originality of Sikles should not have vanished at any cost. The event was organized as part of the trekking promotion program from Sikles-Kapuche-Kori-Kholasonthar-Yangjakot to Pokhara again. Chairperson of the Association, Kisam Kumari Gurung, said the culture of Sikles is its originality.

He stressed the need for tourism development while preserving originality. Founder President of the Association Gandaki Province and Programme Coordinator, Bobar Jung Gurung, said that the area is a historical site of the Gurungs. He said efforts were being made to develop the Gurung heritage trekking route by incorporating Kapuche, Kori, and Kholasonthar, incorporating Gurung villages including Sikles.

Ward Chair of Madi Rural Municipality-1, Devi Jung Gurung, said that the place where the people of the Gurung community migrated from Kholasonthar for the first time is Sikles. Chairperson of the Nepal Mountaineering Association Gandaki Province, Bikash Gurung opined that the Gurung heritage trekking route would be an important option at a time when various trekking routes in the country are shrinking with increasing settlement development.

A peace monument has been built in Sikles as the starting point of the peace process. There are many tourist places, including the ‘Eco Museum,’ located here. It may be noted that the Nepal Tourism Board, Ministry of Industry and Tourism, Gandaki Province, Madi Rural Municipality, and Gurung Tourism Entrepreneurs Association have extended support to the trekking route promotion program. —RSS